L.A. Youth special report: Juvenile Justice

Because of his age, the boy’s name has not been released by the police. The New Jersey authorities must charge him as a juvenile, though he still faces up to 20 years on the murder charge. However, had this happened across the border in Pennsylvania, the alleged 10-year-old killer could be tried as an adult. Is this juvenile justice?

Or how about this … Toronto Patterson was convicted of shooting and killing his cousin and her two young daughters. At the time of the shooting he was just four months shy of his 18th birthday. He was executed March 2003. Former First Lady Rosalyn Carter has denounced Patterson’s execution as a miscarriage of justice because he was a minor (17 years and 8 months old) at the time of the crime.

But what about Patterson’s three-year-old victim? Many victims’ rights proponent have asked that question to death penalty opponents, especially those such as Carter who strongly call for an end to "juvenile executions." Where’s the juvenile justice here?

"Juvenile Justice" as a practice in this country began in 1899, when the first juvenile court was established in Cook County, Illinois. The State took a different view with juveniles, focusing more on rehabilitation than strictly on punishment, as has been the model with adults in the criminal justice system, at least theoretically. At times this mindset has faced conflict from victims’ rights groups though, who hold that legal distinctions in age are arbitrary and should not absolve criminals from responsibility.

In the 100-plus-year history of "juvenile justice," crimes have been created that are crimes only for juveniles – truancy or running away; these are called status offenses. But juveniles are also treated differently for crimes like shoplifting or vandalism than an adult would be because they are under 18. They might be spared a jail sentence in the hopes that the youth can be taught the error of his or her ways though counseling or rehabilitation.

Juvenile justice has become a hot-button topic on talk shows, in schools and in the voting booth. From gangs and guns to competency at trial and incarceration, there are opinions about all the social impacts.

* Did you know that 2.4 million people under 18 were arrested in 2000 in the United States?
* Did you know that there were 6,278 known murderers ages 4-17 in California during the last 20 years?
* Did you know that since 1990 juvenile offenders are known to have been executed in only seven countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Pakistan, Yemen, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and the United States?

Statistics such as these are available all over the Web, which is jam-packed with information from the government, human rights and youth rights organizations and political groups.

Backers of measures like propositions 21 and 184 have clearly taken a harder line on criminal justice. Supporters of Prop. 21 in California have singled out youth in particular, holding that a 14-year-old is mature enough to be held accountable for his or her actions, including murder. Meanwhile, evidence suggests that those under 16 are not emotionally and mentally developed enough to aid in their own defense, according to a recent report prepared by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

So consider this report a resource guide, which includes the best of what’s out there.

Statistics and research
Government links
Organizations/Advocates
Issues
     Zero tolerance
     Proposition 21
     Three strikes
     Gang injunctions
Other resources